áva

Öva is a Swedish verb meaning to practice, drill, or rehearse. It denotes deliberate repetition aimed at improving a skill or ability, such as playing an instrument, a sport, language learning, or studying. The term emphasizes sustained effort over time rather than a single action.

Usage of öva is common in educational and training contexts. For example, one might say, “Hon övar piano varje dag” (She practices piano every day) or “Vi övar inför konserten” (We are rehearsing for the concert). In past tense, it is used as “övade” (He övade i två timmar igår – He practiced for two hours yesterday). In perfect tenses, Swedish uses the participle form, as in “Hon har övat mycket” (She has practiced a lot).

Conjugation and forms are straightforward for learners: present tense övar, past tense övade, and the supine/perfect participle övat. The verb is often paired with nouns related to activities that benefit from repetition, such as music, sports, or language drills.

Etymology and related forms: öva is part of the Germanic language family and has cognates in Danish and Norwegian, where the equivalent verb is øve and retains the same general meaning. The Swedish form is linked to Old Norse influences, with early forms attested in historical Swedish texts.

See also: övning (exercise), träning (training).